News

Stone Stable After Stabbing

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh introduces A1C Spencer Stone, who helped stop a terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train in August, on Sept. 15, 2015, at the 2015 Air Force Association Air & Space Conference in National Harbor, Md. Staff photo by Kristina Parrill.

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​—Jennifer Hlad

Oct. 9, 2015: A1C Spencer Stone, the airman who charged a gunman on a French train to stop a terrorist attack in August, is in stable condition after being stabbed multiple times in the chest in Sacramento, officials said.

Sacramento police said in a written statement that they believe the stabbing victim—who Air Force officials confirmed is Stone—was out with a group of friends in the area of 21st and K streets when a fight began. A passerby called police, and they responded at 12:46 a.m. Thursday.

Firefighters took Stone to a local hospital, where he is in stable condition and is expected to survive, Air Force and police officials said.

Police said they “firmly believe that this is not a terrorism-related event,” and that it was not related to the incident in France. However, they said, “The assault does not appear to be a random act and is believed to be a nightlife-related incident.” There are several bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in the vicinity of the attack.

Police on Thursday began circulating a security camera photo of two men they said are “persons of interest,” and asked for help from anyone who witnessed the attack.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said she was “saddened by the news,” and asked her Facebook followers to “please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers” while the investigation unfolds.

Stone is from the Sacramento area and had originally planned for a permanent change of station move to Nellis AFB, Nev., next month. However, after receiving medical care in France and Germany for the stab wounds he suffered while fighting the train gunman, he asked to be sent back to Travis AFB, Calif., instead.

“It just makes a lot more sense for me right now,” Stone told Air Force Magazine in September, noting that he had worked at Travis’ hospital previously, and that the base is just 45 minutes from his home.

Stone was slated to be promoted to senior airman at the end of this month; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh announced at the Air & Space Conference in September that he will promote Stone an additional rank, to staff sergeant, on Nov. 1.

Stone’s childhood friend, Army National Guard Spc. Alek Skarlatos, who also helped stop the terrorist attack and is now a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” dedicated his performance this week to the community of Roseburg, Ore.

Skarlatos lives in Roseburg and attended Umpqua Community College, where a gunman killed nine people last week. Skarlatos said he would have been on campus the day of the shooting if he wasn’t on the reality show.